"We've lost so much that I can't believe in this day and age this can happen to women, that our lives are being destroyed and no one cares," Mrs Thompson told Fairfax Media last year.

In an incident report to the TGA, Mrs Thompson noted multiple urinary tract infections leaving her resistant to some antibiotics, chronic and severe pelvic pain, chronic bowel problems, incontinence, multiple areas where the mesh had eroded her vagina, and that she was unable to stand for any length of time, suffered constant fatigue and stress, and had needed successive surgeries and treatments.

She was unable to work and as a consequence she and her husband had been forced to sell their home, Mrs Thompson said.

It's understood the banned mesh products were only used in a minority of prolapse cases with tape products still well regarded by urogynaecologists for treating urinary stress incontinence.

Health Issues Centre CEO Danny Vadasz welcomed the announcement but said it was disappointing some devices would still be available under a special access scheme.

"We think there are ample reasons for a total ban. We can't imagine which surgeon would still want to use mesh in the absence of evidence and with so many injured women," Mr Vadasz said.

"What does this decision mean for women with stress urinary incontinence, for which mesh is still recommended?"

He also congratulated the women who courageously campaigned for the ban, calling the TGA decision a "historic move".

The Senate inquiry heard how victims unable to have vaginal sex after mesh surgery "repeatedly" reported that their doctors suggested anal sex as an alternative.

More than 40 mesh devices were cleared for use by Australia's peak health regulator, the TGA, without clinical evidence of safety and efficacy, and despite strong warnings from three Australian specialists as early as 2003, including Newcastle gynaecologist Alan Hewson, that some surgical mesh procedures "cannot be recommended".